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About Fred Meyer

Digital strategist by day, hack writer and photography by night - this long-time figure collector still thinks that he can string words together and form meaningful entertaining sequences. He is obviously mistaken.

Talk about a Black Friday sale! From now through November 30, fans can save 50% off the complete six volume set of Collecting the Art of G.I. Joe!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, then you’ve heard of 3DJoes.com. Whether it’s for the innovative 360 spin views of the classic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line or the painstaking restoration of the vintage package art, this site has quickly become a go-to to resource for Joe fans everywhere.

However, 3DJoes took things to a whole new level with the Collecting the Art of G.I. Joe 6 volume series. These softcover volumes feature careful digital restoration of every single piece of packaging art from the 1982 – 1994 classic toy line. The final volume in the series made its debut at the 2018 G.I. Joe Collector’s Convention where all six volumes were available in a GORGEOUS slipcase. It was a fitting end to a series of reference books that resurrects the artwork and packaging that captured the hearts and minds of countless children decades ago.

As stock in this incredible series dwindles, 3DJoes is offering an incredible deal. All six volumes with the slipcase for 50% off list price. That’s right– every piece of ARAH-era packaging artwork collected in definitive series for $120.00. The series was a STEAL at $225.00 but this makes it all the more affordable.

Here’s the kicker– there are LESS THAN 150sets remaining as I type this. (In fact, after checking in with the author, I’d say that they’re down to half that amount.) If you want to own this series at this incredible price– go NOW. Don’t wait until November 30th if you can. Snag your copy ASAP and see what all the hype is about for yourself.

It’s last call, Joe fans. Yesterday, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club opened up pre-orders for the final slate of new products that were unveiled in The Last Joe Con panel in Chattanooga earlier this year. However, hold on to your wallets– this is going to hurt. Hard.

Final Twelve composite courtesy of the Surveillance Port

Before I go any further, I’m going to provide links to the products and provide the cost per each item. That’s the objective part of this piece. After that, the filter will be removed.

Here are links to the Final Twelve, Zartan and the Cold Slither Cycle, and the Night Stalkers.

All good things must come to an end. Or, as is the case with the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, all licenses must come to a conclusion. Either way, the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club has released the last image of their “Final 12” roster of figures which will be going up for pre-order shortly.

Since JBL has apparently been slacking off lately with individual reveals, here’s a look at each of the “two-packs” as well as some thoughts on the roster as a whole.

The Final 12 – composite courtesy of the Surveillance Port

Just a quick note: it was announced at the last Joe Con that these figures would be sold in pairs. If you want one– you have to get its pack-mate as well. Without further adieu, let’s start the breakdowns…

Look, anyone who’s been following JBL for any length of time knows that this site LOVES the Rank&FileGuide series. (Yes, each word is a link to a different post!) They’re some of the most detailed modern G.I. Joe reference works available and have a proud place on my reference shelf next to books by Mark Bellomo, Dan Klingensmith, and 3DJoes.com.

Volume 4 made a “special edition” debut at The Last Joe Con this year from Fun Publications with a special cover and insert pages. However, that was just a sample– a taste of what the full-fledged volume would contain. Now, G.I. Joe fans and toy collectors can order their own copy of this exciting volume that delves into the world of “the exclusives”…

However, don’t take our word for it… check out the press release from “Noted Author” James Kavanaugh himself!

G.I. Joe Flashback, an independent film about a key era in the lives of several future Joes, is now funding with under 30 days to go!

We all know the stories– the tale first recounted in Marvel Comics G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #26— of a Vietnam LLRP team consisting of the men who would go on to become Stalker, Storm Shadow, and Snake Eyes. However, do we know the stories that came before those events in which Tommy dropped everything to rescue his friend, cementing the bond between them?

This is going to be more than just a “fan film”. The folks behind G.I. Joe Flashback are bringing in some real talent to not just tell this story but to tell it right. The film is produced by cosplayer extrordinaire “Skinny“, and features a talented and passionate group of fans helping to bring it to light. Names like Bill Nedrow and Paul Panfalone are no strangers to the fan community. Every detail from the story to the score is being supervised with a true reverence to the source material.

Are you going to Retro Con 2018 on October 13 – 14, 2018 in Oaks, PA? Well, here are two more reasons you should consider going: Sgt. Slaughter & BJ Ward!

What is Retro Con?

Simply put: Retro Con is a celebration of all things 80’s and 90’s! It’s a celebration of nostalgia of the greatest era of popular culture. From television and films to cartoons and video games, Retro Con is THE family-friendly con for anyone who grew up in the last 30 years!

This year, however, Retro Con holds a special significance to G.I. Joe fans! Two legendary performers from the classic G.I. Joe cartoon series produced by Marvel Productions and Sunbow will be on hand! (Yes, one of them was also present in the DiC era but, let’s be honest, we don’t really like to talk about that series.) Hold on to your hats as both Sgt. Slaughter and veteran voice actress BJ Ward (Scarlett, Princess Alura, Wonder Woman) are coming to this amazing two day event!

While Melendy Britt (She-Ra) is no longer able to attend the organizers of the event have stepped in a big way with Ms. Ward as the latest added guest!

Even better– these two legends of G.I. Joe animation history will be joining Greg Berger (Spirit, Grimlock, Odie) and Garry Chalk (Optimus Primal, Man-at-Arms, Metal-Head) in greeting guests, signing autographs, and being onsite for an amazing weekend. Plus, if you’re looking to get a further Sunbow fix, Samantha Newark (Jem, Ariel) will be on site as well. Plus, Larry Kenney (Lion-O) is also going to be there! It’s a chance to meet the voices and personas that dominated your cartoon viewing time as a kid! (And, if you’re like me, as an adult today!)

If that’s not enough, there’s even a special concert by the famed Cybertronic Spree on Saturday night!

Sadly, we had no entries on Instagram which just means that we’re giving away TWO prizes on Facebook instead! The first place winner gets a pair of these awesome serpentine Atelis Warrior figures while the runner-up is the recipient of a single Atelis Warrior to add to his or her collection. The decision-making process wasn’t easy and but in the end the winners were chosen based on photo composition as well as their descriptions. So, without further adieu…

It’s no secret that the Boss Fight Studio Vitruvian HACKS line has taken the 1:18 action figure community by storm. It’s also no secret that Kokomo Toys is one of THE best sources for quality vintage and modern action figures out there. When these two giants partnered together to produce the Atelis Warrior Altered Amazon figure– the result was PURE WIN!

Thanks to Kokomo Toys, JBL has THREE of these deadly warriors to give away! However, we’re not going to give them away all at once! Here’s how to win one or two of your very own starting on Saturday, August 17th: All you need to do is snap an original image and post it on one of the social media channels listed below! The catch? It’s an image that would be improved by the inclusion of an Atelis Warrior!

Facebook Giveaway: Two sealed Atelis Warriors

Facebook is currently the world’s largest social media platform so we’re giving away not one but TWO of the Atelis Warriors over the JBL Facebook page! Simply find the contest announcement post and reply with an original action figure image that you think NEEDS to include two Atelis Warriors. In your entry, tell us if you’re using another figure as a stand-in and describe how you’d use the Atelis Warrior to improve the shot! Entries need not be limited to a Greek setting! Feel free to let your creativity run wild be it with Indiana Jones, Marauder Task Force, Jurassic Park, etc. The image just has to be posted from your profile in the contest post discussion before the deadline listed at the bottom of this article!

Instagram Giveaway: One sealed Atelis Warrior

Instagram is a perfect place to show off your amazing action figure photos! Now just imagine how much more awesome those photos would be with an Atelis Warrior showcased front and center! To be eligible to win one of these figures, simply shoot and post a photo on Instagram that would be made that much more exciting if it included an altered Amazon warrior! Post your pic, tell us how the Atelis Warrior would make the shot better (and which figure is standing in for the serpentine warrior), and tag @joebattlelines in the description as well as use the hashtag #JBLHacks. That’s it!

The deadline to submit your entries on BOTH platforms is 11:59pm CST on August 25, 2018! JBL staff will peruse through the entries following the deadline. We’ll announce the winners of each giveaway both here and on our social media channels on Tuesday August 28, 2018. So, fire up your cameras, grab some action figures, and snap some amazing photos for your chance to win one or two of these amazing figures!

GIJoeCon 2018 has come and gone and I’m still playing catch-up posting the convention coverage. The JBL staff (IE Fred) drove to the con this year and apparently making the solo 8.5 hour drive back in 9.5 hours wasn’t the best idea in the world. Maybe it’s true what Indiana Jones said:

It’s not the years… it’s the mileage…

Regardless, I managed to post a few LIVE videos over on JBL’s Facebook page with a quick look at the various souvenir items. I’ve archived them below for easy viewing. In reverse order, these videos cover the following:

GIJoeCon 2018 is one for the history books. The last official Joe Con is over with the G.I. Joe Collector’s Club conducting one last Club Roundtable panel on Sunday June 24, 2018. However, the Club didn’t go out with a whimper but instead surprised fans not only with some retrospective slide shows and musings about what the past 22 years of conventions have meant to them and the community but also with a final slate of exclusive products set to drop in the coming weeks.

Note: we have no information on pricing, release date, or even overall availability. However, if the sellout of the Dreadnok 4WD with Heartwrencher was any indication, it’s best to pre-order these as soon as possible after the orders go live.